DUBLIN, Ohio - A sunny day at Muirfield Village should have been the first clue that the opening round at the Memorial might contain a few surprises.
Charles Howell III got the best one Thursday when he watched his 45-foot putt feed down the slope and curl into the cup on No. 18. He played his final 12 holes in 8-under-par for 64 and a one-stroke lead over Kenny Perry.
"What can I say? When things start going your way, they go your way," said Howell, who matched the best first-round score in the 28-year history of the Memorial.
Tiger Woods, playing on the PGA Tour for the first time since the Masters, made birdie from 25 feet on the final hole for 67. It was his best opening round since 66 in the Disney Classic last October, but that's not what left him amazed.
"The scores are so low today," Woods said. "It's hard to believe that 4-under is probably not going to be in the top 10. You don't see that on this golf course."
Another surprise was seeing Nicklaus make a brief appearance on the leaderboard - only it wasn't Jack, the tournament host and winner of 18 majors.
Gary Nicklaus, the 34-year-old son of the Golden Bear who is playing on a sponsor exemption, birdied five of his first nine holes before faltering to 69. His father struggled to 4-over 76.
John Huston, who owns the course record (61 in 1991), holed out for eagle from the ninth fairway with a sand wedge and finished with 66.
Along with Woods, the large group at 67 included Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen and Brad Faxon. Defending champion Jim Furyk and John Daly were among those at 68.
WALES OPEN: Ian Poulter shot 7-under 65 despite tonsillitis, matching the course record and joining Nick O'Hern for the first-round lead at the European PGA Tour event in Newport.
MISCELLANY: The Royal & Ancient club is separating its private, all-male members club from its commercial and rule-making role. The move could allow women access to the commercial and rule-making side of the club, which is the world governing body outside the United States and Mexico. The 2,500-member private club in St. Andrews, Scotland, will retain its all-male membership. ... Padraig Harrington of Ireland joined the PGA Tour as a special temporary member, meaning he can take unlimited exemptions as he decides whether to play more in America.
